NY Tech Week Guide: What’s On My Radar
Learn about ventures backed by hybrid capital, get expert advice for student founders, or participate in an OpenAI-backed hackathon this week at NY Tech Week.
With the hype around New York Tech Week growing with each passing minute, my dash has been overflowing with fun, exciting, and impactful events organized by friends, colleagues, and organizations that I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with in the past. On that note, I thought it would be helpful to put together a short list of my top three picks for entrepreneurs in my network who may have missed these exciting opportunities amid the swarm of events happening.
Here’s my unfiltered, highly biased, and not-at-all-comprehensive shortlist of events that caught my eye this #NYTechWeek.
🌍 Best for Social Innovators, Mission-Driven Builders & Those Exploring Hybrid Capital
Robin Hood Foundation’s Catalyst Demo Day
🗓️ June 3, 4:00PM – 7:00PM
As you may have seen me discuss before, I’ve been having numerous conversations with friends from both the VC-backed start-up ecosystem and the non-profit world about hybrid capital and funders that provide support at the intersection of profit and purpose.
Robin Hood’s Catalyst program is an excellent example of a hybrid approach to startup funding that does just that. It has been backing bold social entrepreneurs for the past five months, culminating in this upcoming Demo Day.
Whether you’re a social entrepreneur or not, I truly believe it’s an event worth exploring for entrepreneurs and funders alike who want to learn more about the power of hybrid funding and alternatives to both traditional venture capital and non-profit funding.
🎓 Best for Student Founders
From Campus to Unicorns — Hosted by The MBA Fund & Lowenstein Sandler
🗓️ June 4, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
If you’re a student founder, I cannot recommend this event enough. It features Abe Kwon, who practices startup law at Lowenstein Sandler, and is a rockstar in the start-up ecosystem. Abe has been an incredible support to me, as well as to many other student founders I look up to, when navigating the legal and technical challenges of launching a venture.
This panel dives deep into the early journey, from lecture halls to cap tables. It’s great for anyone still on campus or recently graduated, navigating the transition from ideas to implementation. The MBA Fund has definitely been a pioneer in supporting students on this journey, and I have no doubt that they’ll be bringing brilliant stories, insights and best practices to the table, so make sure to join in and stay for the networking after.
🚀 Best AI Event
OpenAI Hackathon + Evening Reception
🗓️ June 5, 10:00AM – 7:00PM
This one feels like a no-brainer, so make sure you apply to be there.
On June 5th, OpenAI is pulling together NYC’s sharpest pre-seed builders for a full-day hackathon in Soho — hands-on building, real-time feedback from the OpenAI team, and a shot at $25,000 in OpenAI credits. Finalists get to showcase their work at the reception that evening, complete with live demos, founder mingling, and possibly a few surprise appearances.
Whether you’re an aspiring technical founder who wants to get on OpenAI’s radar through the hackathon or if you just want to drop in for the reception later in the day, the door is open for you to shoot your shot.
Closing Thoughts
As someone who’s always worried I’m missing out on something important, I think the best thing I’ve ever done is focus on what my goal is for an event like NY Tech Week: What are the topics I’m most excited to explore? Who exactly are the people I’m looking to meet with?
This article is by no means a comprehensive list, and you should definitely explore all that the week has to offer on their official calendar. With that said, these are the topics that stood out to me the most - I hope you find the ones you’re looking for and have an amazing week ahead!
A Personal Update…
As many of you know, I started my entrepreneurial journey at 13, launching Ascendance to help Gen Z turn their passions into real-world careers and solve problems in their communities.
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